The Psychedelic Roots of 'Be Here Now': What Ram Dass Learned on His Mind-Bending Journey

From Harvard Labs to Himalayan Temples: The Mind-Expanding Story Behind a Spiritual Classic

Long before he became Ram Dass, Richard Alpert was at the forefront of the psychedelic revolution. As a Harvard psychologist, he and his colleague Timothy Leary conducted groundbreaking experiments with LSD and psilocybin, hoping to unlock the mysteries of consciousness. Their research revealed extraordinary states of mind—unity, ego dissolution, and glimpses of the divine. But as the euphoria faded, so did the sense of enlightenment. The cycle of ascent and descent left Alpert with more questions than answers.



For Alpert, psychedelics were both a doorway and a dead end. They showed him what was possible but couldn’t provide lasting transformation. The insights gained in altered states always faded, leaving him yearning for a more permanent awakening. This realization propelled him to India, where he hoped to find the answers that chemicals could not provide.

In the Himalayas, Alpert met Neem Karoli Baba, who demonstrated a love and wisdom that transcended any psychedelic trip. The guru’s unconditional acceptance and miraculous knowledge broke through Alpert’s skepticism, opening his heart in ways that no drug ever had. It was here that he received the name Ram Dass and began to understand that true enlightenment is not a fleeting experience, but a way of being.



'Be Here Now' captures the lessons of this journey: psychedelics can point the way, but the real work is done through daily practice, surrender, and love. Ram Dass’s story reminds us that the path to awakening is both exhilarating and humbling—a dance between the extraordinary and the everyday.